A Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military cargo plane met with a fatal fate shortly after takeoff on Tuesday.
The aircraft, carrying 15 individuals on board, succumbed to a fire engulfing one of its engines, plunging to the ground in the Ivanovo region, northeast of Moscow.
Details emerging from the scene paint a grim picture, with Russian online news services reporting no survivors.
Unverified footage circulating on social media platforms captured the harrowing moment when the aircraft, with one engine ablaze, descended toward the ground before crashing. A thick column of dark smoke billowed into the sky, marking the tragic aftermath of the crash.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the incident, stating, "At about 1:00 p.m. Moscow time, an IL-76 military transport aircraft crashed during takeoff for a scheduled flight in the Ivanovo region." The ministry attributed the disaster to a fire erupting in one of the engines during the aircraft's ascent.
Among the 15 individuals aboard the ill-fated flight were eight crew members and seven passengers. While the extent of casualties remains undisclosed by official sources, reports from the scene, as cited by TASS news agency, suggest that all individuals on board are feared to have perished.
This tragedy strikes a somber note in the wake of recent aviation mishaps involving military aircraft. Just weeks ago, another IL-76 plane, purportedly carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, crashed in a Russian region bordering Ukraine. Although the Ivanovo region stands over 700 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border, the echoes of aviation disasters reverberate across the nation.
As investigations into the cause of the crash unfold, the hearts of many are heavy with grief for the lives lost and the families left mourning. The aviation community, both in Russia and beyond, stands in solidarity during this time of sorrow, reflecting on the fragility of life and the perils faced in the skies.
